https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240204/paint-it-white-why-is-kenyas-sky-dotted-with-butterflies-1064925581.html
'Paint It White': Why is Kenya's Sky Dotted With Butterflies?
'Paint It White': Why is Kenya's Sky Dotted With Butterflies?
Sputnik Africa
Over the past few days, the skies in parts of Kenya have turned white by an unusual cluster of butterflies. What is this: a harbinger of the apocalypse or a... 04.02.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-02-04T17:01+0100
2024-02-04T17:01+0100
2024-02-04T17:55+0100
sub-saharan africa
kenya
east africa
climate change
animals
nature
butterflies
weather
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/02/04/1064927673_0:156:3000:1844_1920x0_80_0_0_73ff309d1264e21eb0f00580b08ba67b.jpg
Belenois aurota, or Сaper white, are the Kenyan white butterflies responsible for the unusual event, which is actually quite normal: these butterflies migrate from one part of Kenya to another every year, entomologist Muo Kasina told a local media.However, there have been more butterflies recently due to global warming: the insects breed during the warm season, which lasts longer due to climate change, producing more offspring and making their migration more frequent and visible. Lack of rain also helps with migration because the butterflies can't fly when it's raining.Moreover, migration patterns have also changed. Typically, migration occurs when animals leave their usual habitat, which is often located on the plains in places like National Parks or where there are few distractions. Butterflies are now moving towards buildings, roads and farmlands. Since they are so delicate, butterflies can be carried around by the slightest breeze.The scientist added that despite their large numbers, butterflies are safe for crops and also play an important role in pollination, which refers to the passage of pollen grains from the male part of a flower to the female part to stimulate plant reproduction.Thus, Kasina called on people to be more attentive to these fragile insects, advising them not to use pesticides to kill them and to try to cut down less trees to preserve butterflies' natural habitat.It is not just Kenya where the skies are whitening; in the northern Russian city of Murmansk, residents recently saw the first sunrise since the end of the polar night, which lasted more than a month.
kenya
east africa
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2024
Christina Glazkova
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e7/0b/07/1063380906_0:0:673:674_100x100_80_0_0_79628b4d0cd9f29291a57aa13bbf9e7a.jpg
Christina Glazkova
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e7/0b/07/1063380906_0:0:673:674_100x100_80_0_0_79628b4d0cd9f29291a57aa13bbf9e7a.jpg
News
en_EN
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Christina Glazkova
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e7/0b/07/1063380906_0:0:673:674_100x100_80_0_0_79628b4d0cd9f29291a57aa13bbf9e7a.jpg
kenya, east africa, climate change, animals, nature, butterflies, weather
kenya, east africa, climate change, animals, nature, butterflies, weather
'Paint It White': Why is Kenya's Sky Dotted With Butterflies?
17:01 04.02.2024 (Updated: 17:55 04.02.2024) Christina Glazkova
Writer / Editor
Over the past few days, the skies in parts of Kenya have turned white by an unusual cluster of butterflies. What is this: a harbinger of the apocalypse or a normal phenomenon?
Belenois aurota, or Сaper white, are the
Kenyan white butterflies responsible for the unusual event, which is actually quite normal: these butterflies migrate from one part of Kenya to another every year, entomologist Muo Kasina told a local media.
However, there have been more butterflies recently due to global warming: the insects breed during the
warm season, which lasts longer due to
climate change, producing more offspring and making their migration more frequent and visible. Lack of rain also helps with migration because the butterflies can't fly when it's raining.
Moreover, migration patterns have also changed. Typically, migration occurs when
animals leave their usual habitat, which is often located on the plains in places like National Parks or where there are few distractions. Butterflies are now moving towards buildings, roads and farmlands. Since they are so delicate, butterflies can be carried around by the slightest breeze.
The scientist added that despite their large numbers, butterflies are safe for crops and also play an important role in pollination, which refers to the passage of pollen grains from the male part of a flower to the female part to stimulate plant reproduction.
Thus, Kasina called on people to be more attentive to these fragile insects, advising them not to use pesticides to kill them and to try to
cut down less trees to preserve butterflies' natural habitat.
It is not just Kenya where the skies are whitening; in the northern Russian city of Murmansk, residents recently
saw the first sunrise since the end of the polar night, which lasted more than a month.
